Public Meeting: Cuts to Richardson Hospital Out-of-Hours Service

Helen has organised a public meeting on the cuts to the out-of-hours service at the Richardson Hospital in Barnard Castle.

Tuesday 17th September, 6.30pm

Barnard Castle Methodist Church Hall

You will be able to put your questions to senior managers from the Clinical Commissioning Group, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, and the North East Ambulance Service.

This meeting comes after the CCG announced plans to cut the out-of-hours Urgent Care hub at the Richardson. The closest hub is now located in Bishop Auckland.

Helen Goodman has opposed these plans and raised concerns with the Adult Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee about the service loss.

The CCG have said that the service at Barnard Castle was not used enough, however many residents did not know how to access these appointments. Some reported that they were directed to other hubs across the region when they called the NHS 111 service.

Helen Goodman said: “This meeting is an opportunity for residents to be heard by the CCG, the Hospital Trust, and the North East Ambulance Service, who operate 111. They will be able to ask questions, share their experiences, and hold these organisations to account. We need our health services to be designed around local needs, not this constant centralisation that makes it hard for people to get the care they deserve.”

The out-of-hours service has recently been cut from the Richardson Hospital